Total laundry treating system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a total clothes treating system, including a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses positioned adjacent to one another for treating clothes, a display unit for receiving states of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and data on the clothes being treated at the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses, and displaying for a user to notice, and a data exchange unit for data exchange among the clothes treating apparatuses and the display unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to total laundry treating system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a total laundry treating system in which treatment of clothes can be made by one system.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, the clothes treating system performs washing, drying, washing and drying of laundry. In this instance, one clothes treating apparatus only performs either washing function or drying function or both. Moreover, recently, clothes treating apparatuses are spread, each of which is provided with a steam generator to have a refresh function for removing crumples, odor, and static electricity from the clothes. It is the present trend that sizes of the clothes treating apparatus become greater according to users demands.

In the meantime, all the clothes treating apparatuses have been used individually according to necessities. That is, in cases the user intends to wash, dry, refresh or store the clothes, the user have carried out a required function by using an individual clothes treating apparatus located at spaces different from one another.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, even if the user purchases the individual clothes treating apparatuses for carrying out all the functions of the washing, drying, refreshing or storage of the clothes, sharing of information on clothes being treated among the clothes treating apparatuses has been difficult. At the end, in a case treatment of the clothes is made by the individual clothes treating apparatuses, it is required to input data including information on the clothes one by one, which is not convenient.

Technical Solution

To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a total clothes treating apparatus which can perform washing, drying, refreshing and/or storage in package.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a total clothes treating system includes a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses positioned adjacent to one another for treating clothes, a display unit for receiving states of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and data on the clothes being treated at the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses, and displaying for a user to notice, and a data exchange unit for data exchange among the clothes treating apparatuses and the display unit.

The plurality of clothes treating apparatuses include a washing machine and a dryer, and further include a refresher. Or, the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses may include a washing and drying machine, and a refresher, and further include a clothes holding unit.

In the meantime, the data exchange unit is cables connected among the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and the display unit, or wireless communication units mounted to the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and the display unit respectively for making wireless data exchange.

Moreover, the display unit is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). In the meantime, the display unit may further include an input unit for inputting operation orders to the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses respectively according to user's selection.

In the meantime, the clothes respectively held in the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses have an identification tag containing information on the clothes, and each of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses has an identification sensor for sensing the clothes information on the identification tag and transmitting the clothes information to the display unit.

In this case, the display unit displays the clothes information sensed at the identification sensor. Furthermore, the display unit further includes a storage unit for storing the clothes information therein.

The clothes information includes information on a clothes state, and the storage unit has information on treating methods for treating the clothes at the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses according to the clothes states respectively in advance, and the display unit compares the clothes information from the identification sensor to the information on treating methods stored in the storage unit in advance, and displays treating methods for treating the clothes at the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses, respectively.

In this instance, the display unit gives orders to the clothes treating apparatuses automatically so that the clothes are treated according to the treating methods, or if the user selects the treating methods, the display unit gives orders to the clothes treating apparatuses respectively.

In the meantime, the clothes information includes information on treating the clothes at the clothes treating apparatuses, and the display unit receives the clothes information, stores the clothes information to the storage unit and displays the clothes information at the same time.

The display unit also gives orders to the clothes treating apparatuses automatically so that the clothes are treated by the treating methods respectively, or if the user selects the treating methods, the display unit gives orders to the clothes treating apparatuses, respectively.

Moreover, the display unit further includes a receiver for receiving information on weather from an outside of the total clothes treating system. In this case, the display unit controls the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses with reference to the weather information and the clothes information, respectively.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

The present invention has following advantageous effects.

The total clothes treating system of the present invention permits all kinds of treatments for the clothes, i.e., total treatment, with one system.

Because input of the information on the clothes to the clothes treating apparatuses individually is not required, even though the clothes treating apparatuses treat clothes individually, the treatment of the clothes is made easy.

Calculation of the clothes treating method is possible, by taking not only the information on the clothes, but also the weather information into account.

The plurality of clothes treating apparatuses can be controlled at the display unit conveniently without making individual control of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses.

Information on states of the clothes treating apparatuses and the clothes being treated can be determined at the display unit easily without determining the states at the clothes treating apparatuses one by one.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a total clothes treating system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the total clothes treating system in FIG. 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, schematically;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the total clothes treating system in FIG. 1 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, schematically;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a laundry holding unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the laundry holding unit in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a section across a line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of the laundry holding unit in FIG. 4 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically;

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of the laundry holding unit in FIG. 4 in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the dryer in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the dryer in FIG. 9 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the dryer in FIG. 10, showing the moving up/down unit moved down;

FIG. 12 illustrates a partial enlarged view of the dryer in FIG. 9 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of the clothes holding unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of a system of the air conditioner in FIG. 13, schematically;

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of a system of the clothes holding unit in FIG. 13, schematically;

FIG. 16 illustrates a block diagram showing relations between the air conditioner and related elements in FIG. 13, schematically; and

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram of a system of the clothes holding unit in FIG. 13, schematically.

BEST MODE

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a total clothes treating system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively illustrate block diagrams of the total clothes treating system in FIG. 1, schematically.

Referring to FIG. 1, the total clothes treating system includes a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses installed adjacent to one another for treating clothes, and a data exchange unit (not shown) for exchange of data among the clothes treating apparatuses. Particularly, of the plurality of the clothes treating apparatuses, the total clothes treating system includes at least one laundry holding unit 100.

Referring to FIG. 1, the total clothes treating system enables all steps of domestic clothes treatment done at one system. For an example, all the clothes treatment steps can be done at the total clothes treating system, including temporary holding and subsequent washing, drying, pressing, refreshing, and long time storage, or washing, drying and pressing only, or washing and drying only, or refreshing only.

In order to perform all the clothes treatment steps, the total clothes treating system includes the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses installed adjacent to one another. As shown in FIG. 1, the total clothes treating system having the clothes treating apparatuses thus can be installed anywhere, such as a home or a laundry shop, as far as there is a space with an area enough to install the system.

In the meantime, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the total clothes treating system is connected with the data exchange unit for exchange of data among one another. FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the total clothes treating system in FIG. 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention schematically, and FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the total clothes treating system in FIG. 1 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, schematically.

Referring to FIG. 2, the data exchange unit may be cables connected among the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses or wireless communication units (not shown) mounted to the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses respectively for making wireless data exchange. The dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate data moving paths performed by the cables or the wireless communication units.

That is, the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses are enabled to exchange information on clothes being stored or treated among the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses by the data exchange units. Accordingly, in a case clothes is transferred from one clothes treating apparatus to another, the user is not required to input the information on the clothes one by one, but can input required data conveniently by transferring information inputted to an initial clothes treating apparatus.

Moreover, the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses in FIG. 3 includes a display unit 600 additionally for receiving data from the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses, and displaying various kinds of information on clothes being treated at the clothes treating apparatuses, or controlling operation of the clothes treating apparatuses.

That is, in the total clothes treating system in the second embodiment in FIG. 2, the user requires to determine information on the clothes by means of display units mounted to respective the clothes treating apparatuses, which is not convenient because the user is required to move through the clothes treating apparatuses which are treating the clothes. Accordingly, in the total clothes treating system in the third embodiment in FIG. 3, regardless of the display units mounted to the clothes treating apparatuses, the display unit 600 is provided to the total clothes treating system, such that the user can determine information on clothes being treated at the clothes treating apparatuses, and, furthermore, control operation of the clothes treating apparatuses.

The total clothes treating system in FIG. 2 will be described at first, and then, the total clothes treating system having the display unit 600 mounted thereto in FIG. 3 will be described.

In the total clothes treating system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of the clothes treating apparatuses is the laundry holding unit 100 for holding and storing the laundry. The laundry holding unit 100 holds or stores the laundry temporarily before performing full scale treating, such as washing, drying, pressing, or refreshing of the laundry the user put on.

That is, though the clothes can be washed and dried one by one if the clothes are treated, such as washing or drying, however, in general, in order to perform the washing and drying efficiently, a predetermined amount of the laundry is collected before treating the laundry. In a case the laundry is collected, if the laundry is collected at a basket, the laundry is collected at one place regardless of kinds of the laundry, such that the user is required to sort out the laundry one by one for washing and drying, which is not convenient to the user. However, if a plurality of baskets are provided, the basket will occupy a large space, and in this case too, the user is required to sort out the laundry one by one according to kinds of the laundry before the user puts the laundry in the baskets, which is not convenient, still. According to this, requirements for development of a device for holding and storing the laundry until a predetermined amount of the laundry is collected, and furthermore, making automatic sorting of the laundry.

The clothes holding unit 100 of the total clothes treating system of the embodiment, developed according to above requirements, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the laundry holding unit mounted to the total clothes treating system of the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the laundry holding unit 100 includes a body having an opened top 101 which forms an exterior of the laundry holding unit 100, and moving means 102 on an underside of the body 101 for easy movement of the laundry holding unit 100. In the meantime, it is preferable that the body 101 has a cover 105 on a top thereof for opening/closing the opened top of the body 101.

It is preferable that the body 101 has a plurality of holding boxes 101 for holding the laundry with the kinds of the laundry sorted. Though FIG. 4 illustrates the laundry holding unit 100 having four holding boxes 110 for holding the laundry with the laundry sorted in four kinds, a number of the holding boxes 110 are not limited to four, but can vary with kinds of laundry.

Since the laundry holding unit 100 has a plurality of holding boxes 110 thus, the user can sort out the laundry according to kinds of the laundry so that the user carries out washing with a washing course suitable to information on the laundry, such as materials, colors of the laundry. The user may put the laundry in the four holding boxes sorting the laundry with reference to, for an example, undergarment, clothes with colors, wet towels, and overwears.

In the meantime, it is preferable that the holding boxes 110 are separable from the body 101. According to this, if more than a predetermined amount of the laundry is collected at each of the holding boxes 110, after separating the holding box 110, the user introduce the laundry to the clothes treating apparatus 100, such as the washing machine.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the laundry holding unit 100 in FIG. 4 excluding the cover 105, and FIG. 6 illustrates a section across a line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the body 101 has a control panel 120 at a center of a top for operating the laundry holding unit 100.

The control panel 120 includes an input unit 121 for inputting a kind of the laundry, and a display unit 122 for displaying one of the plurality of the holding boxes 110 in which the user is required to put the laundry according to a data on the kind of laundry the user inputs to the input unit 121.

According to this, if the user inputs the kind of laundry to the input unit 121, since the display unit 122 displays one of the holding boxes 110 in which the user is required to put the laundry, the user can puts the laundry sorting the laundry according to the kind of laundry. It is preferable that the laundry holding unit 100 has four sorting references set as default values thereto. Of course, the user can change the four sorting references.

Referring to FIG. 6, the laundry holding unit 100 includes weight sensors 130 mounted in the body 101, more specifically under each of the holding boxes 110 for measuring a weight of the laundry put therein, respectively. Therefore, weights of the laundry put in each of the holding boxes 110 are measured by the weight sensors 130, and the weights of the laundry measured thus are displayed on the display unit 122. By displaying the weights of the laundry put in each of the holding boxes 110 on the display unit 122 thus, the user can determine a time for washing, and compare the weight to a capacity of the clothes treating apparatus 200.

In the meantime, though the embodiment describes that all the information on the weight of the laundry and information on the holding boxes the user is required to put the laundry therein is displayed on one display unit 122, the present invention is not limited to this, but an additional display unit may be provided for displaying the holding box the user is required to put the laundry therein.

It is preferable that, when the weight sensor 130 senses holding of an amount of the laundry greater than a preset amount at each of the holding boxes 110, announcing means 140 is mounted to each of the holding boxes 110 for informing the sensing to the user. According to this, because the user can notice excessive laundry put in the holding boxes 110, leaving the laundry at the laundry holding unit for a long time period can be prevented in advance.

Moreover, the body 101 has a dehumidifier 150 mounted therein for removal of moisture from the laundry put in each of the bolding boxes 110.

The dehumidifier 150 includes a housing under the control panel 120 and in communication with one side of each of the holding boxes 110, and a fan 152 in the housing 151 for drawing air from each of the holding boxes 110. The holding boxes 152 and the housing 151 have vent holes 110 a and 151 a in sides thereof respectively for drawing air from the holding boxes 152 to the housing 151. By drawing the air from the holding boxes 110 to an outside of the holding boxes 110 by means of the fan 152, wet laundry can be dried to prevent fungi from breeding on the laundry.

In the meantime, it is preferable that the housing 151 has a hole in a lower side for venting air, mounted with a deodoring filter 153 for removing smell from the air being discharged from the holding boxes 152. The deodoring filter 153 mounted to the housing 151 thus can remove offensive odor from the wet laundry in the holding boxes 110.

Referring to FIG. 5 again, the control panel 120 has a storing unit 124 for storing washing information on the laundry in the holding boxes 110, and information on a washing course calculated based on the washing information, and a data exchange unit, as an example, a transmitting unit 160, for transmission of the washing information on the laundry or the washing course stored in the storing unit 124 to the clothes treating apparatus 200. Though FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the information is transmitted by means of radio from the transmitting unit, the means of transmission is not limited to radio, but wire transmission is also possible.

The control panel 120 also has a control unit 150 for controlling operation of the laundry holding unit with reference to information received from the input unit 121, the storing unit 124, and the weight sensors 130, and a transmission button 161 for making the washing information or information on the washing course stored at the storing unit 124 to be transmitted to the clothes treating apparatus 200.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram showing relations between a system of the laundry holding unit 100 and a system of the clothes treating apparatus 200.

Referring to FIG. 7, the clothes treating apparatus 200 which treats the clothes in the laundry holding unit 100 includes a receiving unit 210 which forms a data exchange unit together with the transmitting unit 160 for receiving the washing information or the information on the washing course from the transmitting unit 160, a sensor 230 for sensing introduction of the laundry to the clothes treating apparatus 200, and a control unit 220 for controlling operation of the clothes treating apparatus 200. Though not shown, a weight sensor may be mounted to an inside for measuring weight of the laundry introduced to the clothes treating apparatus 200.

Next, the operation of the laundry holding unit 100 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

If the user inputs information on the laundry to the input unit 121, the display unit 122 displays the holding box 110 to which the laundry is to be introduced. According to this, the user can store the laundry, with the laundry sorted, easily.

The weights of the laundry held the holding boxes 110 are measured by the weight sensors 130 and displayed on the display unit 122 respectively. If the weights of the laundry in the holding boxes 110 exceed a preset weight, the laundry holding unit 100 informs it to the user with an informing means 140.

In the meantime, the storing unit 124 has the washing information of the laundry stored in the holding boxes 110 stored therein. If no weight sensor is mounted to the clothes treating apparatus 200, the control unit 150 may calculate the washing course with reference to the washing information on the laundry stored in the storing unit 124 and information on weight of the laundry measured at the weight sensor, and store the washing course calculated thus to the storing unit 124.

The washing information or the washing course stored in the storing unit 124 thus is transmitted to the receiving unit 210, and the control unit 220 of the clothes treating apparatus 200 performs a washing course with reference to the washing information or the washing course received at the receiving unit 210.

In this instance, the control unit 150 of the laundry holding unit 100 senses weight change of the weight sensor 130 under the holding box 110, and transmits only the washing information or the washing course information of the laundry held in the holding box 110 separated from the body 101.

In a case the clothes treating apparatus 200 has the weight sensor mounted thereto, the control unit 220 of the clothes treating apparatus 200 may perform the washing course after calculating the washing course with reference to the washing information on the laundry received from the laundry holding unit 100, and information on the weight of the laundry received from the weight sensor mounted to the clothes treating apparatus 200.

In the meantime, a time may vary, when the washing information or the information on the washing course is transmitted from the transmitting unit 160 to the receiving unit 210 of the data exchange unit.

For an example, at first, it can be made that, when the user presses the transmission button 161 on the laundry holding unit 100 personally, the washing information or the information on the washing course stored in the laundry holding unit 100 is transmitted. That is, if the user presses the transmission button 161, the control unit 150 makes that the washing information or the information on the washing course stored in the storing unit 124 is transmitted to the receiving unit 210 of the clothes treating apparatus 200 through the transmitting unit 160 of the laundry holding unit 100.

Second, it can also be made that, at the time the user separates the holding box 110 from the body 101 for washing the laundry, the washing information or the information on the washing course stored in the storing unit 124 is transmitted. In this instance, the control unit 150 senses a weight change of the weight sensor 130 to determine that the user separates the holding box 110 from the body 101.

Third, it can be made that, when the sensor 230 mounted to the clothes treating apparatus 200 senses the introduction of the laundry to the clothes treating apparatus 200, the control unit 150 of the clothes holding unit 100 makes that the washing information or the information on the washing course is transmitted to the receiving unit 210 from the transmitting unit 160.

Fourth, it can be made that, when the user puts the clothes treating apparatus 100 into operation, the control unit 150 of the clothes holding unit 100 makes that the washing information or the information on the washing course is transmitted to the receiving unit 210 from the transmitting unit 160.

In a case the washing information or the information on the washing course is transmitted to the clothes treating apparatus 100 at times and by methods like the third and the fourth, it is required that both communication is available for transmitting/receiving signals between the laundry holding unit 100 and the clothes treating apparatus 200.

Thus, as the washing course is performed according to the washing course calculated with reference to the information on the laundry sorted out according to kinds of the laundry, efficiency of the washing course can be enhanced.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of the laundry holding unit in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, in comparison to the foregoing embodiment, the laundry holding unit 100 of the embodiment includes a sensing unit 123 for sensing information stored in an identification tag attached to the laundry instead of the mounting of the input unit to the control panel 120, and a receiving unit 170 for radio reception of information on weather from an outside of the total clothes treating system.

Though there are many kinds of the identification tags, it is preferable that the identification tag attached to the laundry is a RF (Radio Frequency) or a Bar Code.

The operation of the laundry holding unit of the embodiment will be described.

When the user brings the identification tag (not shown) attached to the laundry, which has the washing information of the laundry, such as the material and color of the laundry, into contact to the sensing unit 123, the sensing unit 123 reads the information on the laundry stored in the identification tag, and the control unit 150 determines the holding box 310 to which the laundry is to be introduced with reference to the information on the laundry, and displays the information on the holding box 310 on the display unit 322. The information stored in the identification tag may be at least one selected from material, size, washing method, handling method, drying temperature, storage temperature, and storage humidity of the clothes. Since the storing unit 150 has a data base on sorting references of the laundry stored therein, when the sensing unit 123 senses information on the laundry stored in the identification tag attached to the laundry, the control unit 150 compares the data base stored in the storing unit 124 to the information on the laundry stored in the identification tag to determine the most suitable one of the four holding boxes to which the laundry is to be introduced.

Moreover, the weather information received from the receiving unit 170 is stored in the storing unit 124 of the laundry holding unit 100. The weather information may be one selected from temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, yellow dust, UV ray index, dust concentration, typhoon, precipitation, and snow depth. Therefore, the control unit 150 calculates a washing course suitable to the laundry in the holding box 310 with reference to the information on the laundry sensed at the sensing unit 123, information on the weight of the laundry measured at the weight sensor 130, and the weather information received at the receiving unit 170.

For an example, the control unit 150 may calculates the washing course by combining the information on the laundry sensed at the sensing unit 123, and the information on the weight of the laundry measured at the weight sensor 130, or may calculates the washing course suitable to the laundry stored in the holding box 310 by combining the information on the laundry stored in the sensing unit 123, and the weather information received at the receiving unit 170. Of course, all information may be combined for calculating a suitable washing course.

The washing course calculated at the control unit 150 thus is transmitted from the transmitting unit 160 of the laundry holding unit 100 to the receiving unit 210 of the clothes treating apparatus, and the control unit 220 of the clothes treating apparatus 220 performs the washing course of the clothes treating apparatus 200 according to the washing course received thus.

Thus, because the washing course is performed, which is an optimum washing course of the laundry held in each of the holding boxes 310 calculated taking the information on the laundry and even information on weather into account, the laundry holding unit of the embodiment can improve washing efficiency.

The dryer 300 of the clothes treating apparatus in the total clothes treating system in FIG. 1 will be described.

In a case the total clothes treating system of the embodiment is embodied, an installation space larger than a predetermined size is required for installation of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses. Accordingly, if the space is small, installation of the plurality of the clothes treating apparatus is difficult, and is enforced to select some of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses.

According to this, the total clothes treating system of the present invention includes a clothes treating apparatus of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses, for an example, a dryer 300 which can be mounted over a washing machine spaced by a predetermined distance therefrom. Thus, if mounted to a wall surface over other clothes treating apparatus spaced by the predetermined distance away, the dryer can be installed even if the installation space is small, utilization of the space is enhanced.

The dryer will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view showing an installation state of dryers 300 a and 300 in accordance with two embodiments of the total clothes treating system of the present invention. That is, FIG. 9 illustrates an installation state of dryers 300 a and 300 in accordance with two embodiments of the present invention. The dryer 300 in accordance with an embodiment will be described at first, and then, the dryer 300 a in accordance with another embodiment will be described.

Referring to FIG. 9, it is preferable that the dryer 300 includes a case 303 which forms an exterior of the dryer 300, a door 301 mounted to open a front of the case 303, and a hanger 310 mounted to one side of the case 303 for hanging the clothes therefrom.

It is preferable that the dryer 300 is mounted over the clothes treating apparatus 200, such as the washing machine or a water extractor, or the like, and the clothes holding unit 400 spaced a predetermined distances therefrom. That is, the dryer 300 of the present invention is installed, not on a floor of a predetermined area, but to a side wall of a building or the like, thereby utilizing spaces significantly. Accordingly, even if the space is small, it is possible that the clothes treating apparatus 200, such as the washing machine or the like, is installed on a lower side and the dryer 300 is installed on an upper side.

In this instance, if the washing machine 200 is installed under the dryer 300, in order to dry the clothes washed at the washing machine, since the laundry is moved, not to the dryer at a long distance, but up to the dryer over the washing machine, the drying is convenient to the user.

In the meantime, it is preferable that the case 303 has a space for holding the clothes therein. Of course, the case may have a hexahedral shape, a triangular column shape, or a cylindrical shape. It is preferable that the door 301 is fastened to one side of the case 303, so as to be swing around the fastened side. It is also preferable that the hanger 310 has a ⊂ shape, with a circular section. Of course, a polygonal shape is also viable.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the dryer 300 in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the dryer 300 in FIG. 10, showing the moving up/down unit moved down.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, it is preferable that the dryer 300 includes a case 303, at least one hot air supply unit 317 mounted to one side of the case 303 for supplying to an inside of the case 303, and a control unit for controlling operation of the hot air supply unit 317.

The hot air supply unit 317 supplies hot air to an inside of the case 303. It is preferable that the hot air supply unit 317 has a fan (not shown) for blowing air, and a heat generating body (not shown), such as a heater, for heating the air. Of course, a plurality of the hot air supply unit 317 may be mounted thereto.

Moreover, the case 303 may have a moving up/down unit 331 secured to the hanger 310 and mounted in the case 303 so as to be movable in up/down direction through an opened lower side of the case 303. It is preferable that the moving up/down unit 331 has a U shape. It is preferable that opposite sides of the moving up/down unit 331 face opposite sides of the case 303 respectively. In this instance, the hanger is supported on the opposite surfaces of the moving up/down unit 331, and the moving up/down unit 331 has rack gears 332 mounted to outer sides of the opposite sides of the moving up/down unit 331, respectively. The case 303 has pinion gears 319 mounted to inner sides of the opposite sides of the case 303 at positions corresponding to positions of the rack gears 332 such that the pinion gears 319 are engaged with the rack gears 332, respectively.

The operation of the moving up/down unit 331 will be described. When the pinion gear 319 rotates in a regular or reverse direction by a first driving unit (not shown), such as a motor or the like, mounted to one side of the case 303, the rack gear 332 engaged with the pinion gear 319 makes a linear motion, to move up or down the moving up/down unit 331. In this case, since the case 303 has an opened bottom side, the moving up/down unit 331 moves up/down passing through the bottom side of the case 303. According to this, if the moving up/down unit 331 is pulled up into the case 303, a bottom of the moving up/down unit 331 closes the opened bottom of the case 303, to enclose the inside of the dryer 300.

Since the dryer 300 is over the clothes treating apparatus 200, if a user with a short height uses the dryer 300, the user may experience inconvenience at the time the user hangs the clothes as the user can be reach to the hanger 310 with a hand. Therefore, after the user with a short height makes the moving up/down unit 331 to move down until the user can reach to the hanger 310 with a hand, the user hangs the clothes and then moves up the moving up/down unit 331, again.

It is preferable that the case 303 has a display unit 302 mounted to a front of the case 303 for displaying an inside state of the case 303 and an operation state of the hot air supply unit 317. The display unit 302 may be mounted to one side of the door 301. It is preferable that the display unit 302 includes a control panel for the user to input data to the dryer 300. The display unit displays an inside state of the case 303, i.e., a temperature, a humidity, and so on of the inside of the case 303, and information received from a first sensor 315 and a second sensor 316 to be described hereafter. Moreover, the display unit 302 displays whether the hot air supply unit 317 is in operation or not, a temperature of the hot air, and a speed of the wind, and so on.

In the meantime, the dryer 300 of the embodiment dries the clothes, not only with the hot air supply unit 317 described before, but also with a natural light. That is, in order to dry the clothes with the natural light incident on the inside of the case 303, the case 303 may have a skylight at least one side of the case 303. Accordingly, it is preferable that the dryer 300 is mounted to receive the natural light through the skylight 313. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, if dryer 300 has the skylight 313 formed at a rear, it is preferable that the dryer 300 is mounted such that the rear of the dryer 300 is exposed to an outside of the dryer 300, or adjacent to a window (not shown) in a room.

It is preferable that the skylight 313 is formed of a transparent material, such as glass and transparent plastic, for transmission of the natural light. Of course, it is required that the inside of the dryer 300 is enclosed from an outside. Besides, it is preferable that the skylight is formed of a material that can transmit a UV ray. By making the UV ray directed to the clothes from the outside through the skylight 313, a sterilizing effect can be expected.

It is also preferable that the skylight 313 has a cover 314 mounted thereto for adjusting an extent of opening of the skylight for adjusting the incidence of the natural light and quantity of the light incident thereon. The case 303 may have a second driving unit (not shown), such as a motor or the like, mounted to one side of the skylight 313 for winding the cover 314 on a rotation shaft (not shown) of the motor, to close or open the cover 314, or operative in a blind mode. There may be many kinds of the extent of the opening of the cover 314, such as full opening, half opening, partial opening.

In the meantime, the case 303 has a first sensor 315 for sensing incident of the natural light through the skylight 313, and a second sensor 316 for identifying clothes information of the clothes in the case 303, and the clothes are provided with an identification tag 351 having the clothes information contained therein. Moreover, the case 303 has a UV lamp 318 on one side for sterilizing the clothes.

In this instance, it is preferable that the first sensor 315 is mounted to one side of the skylight 313 for making easy sensing of the incidence of the natural light on the skylight 313. Moreover, a plurality of the first sensors 315, the second sensors 316, the UV lamp 318, and the identification tags 351 may be provided.

In this instance, the UV ray from the UV lamp is an electronic emission ray having a wavelength, shorter than a wavelength of a visible ray, but longer than a wavelength of an X-ray. Though the UV ray has a low transmission power due to the short wavelength, the UV ray has a high energy, to accelerate chemical reactions, and oxidize organic substances, and sterilize microbes.

In the meantime, the identification tag 351 has various kinds of information on the clothes stored therein. Since the kinds of information stored in the identification tag 351 have been described in the foregoing laundry holding unit already, repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

Another embodiment of the dryer 300 a will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 12.

Referring to FIG. 9, in comparison to the dryer 300 described before, the dryer 300 a of the embodiment has differences in that no moving up/down unit is provided, and a hanger 310 has a structure different from the same in the foregoing embodiment. The embodiment will be described focused on the differences.

That is, the dryer 300 a has a hanger 310 mounted to inside walls of the case 303 rotatable around opposite ends of the hanger 310 mounted to opposite inside walls of the case 303. In this case, it is preferable that, if the hanger 310 turns from an upper side to a lower side, the hanger 310 is lead out of the case 303.

That is, if the hanger 310 turns downward, the hanger 303 is lead to an outside of the case 303 gradually, and opposite to this, if the hanger 310 turns upward, the hanger 310 retreats to an inside of the case 303 gradually. This enables the user to make easy access to the hanger 310 for putting the clothes on the hanger 310.

Referring to FIG. 12, though it is preferable that a range of turning angle of the hanger 310 is about 0˜135°, the range is not limited to this, but can be greater than 135°.

In the meantime, it is preferable that holding steps 311 are formed at one side of the case 303 for holding positions of the hanger 310 when the hanger 310 is positioned at a highest point of a movable range of the hanger 310, (That is, at a turning angle 0° of the hanger 310) and at a lowest point of the movable range of the hanger 310, (That is, at a turning angle 135° of the hanger 310). In detail, it is preferable that the hanger 310 has a projection 305 formed at one side, and the case 303 has the holding steps 311, such as recesses, formed at positions matched to the projection 305, i.e., at the points the projection is to be positioned when the hanger is at the highest point and the lowest point, for making the projection 305 inserted therein.

According to this, if the hanger 310 is positioned at the highest point or the lowest point, the projection 305 is inserted in the holding step 311. In this instance, the holding step 311 serve hold the hanger 310 so as not to turn the hanger 310 anymore once the hanger 310 is positioned at the holding step 311.

Moreover, it is also possible that a rotatable driving unit (not shown) including a motor and so on can be mounted to a portion where the hanger 310 is joined with the case 303, for rotating the hanger 310 with the rotatable driving unit. If the rotatable driving unit is mounted, in a case a large amount of the clothes are put on the hanger 310, the clothes can be dried by making stable turning of the hanger 310.

In the meantime, mounted at one side of the hanger 310, there may be a hand grip 312 rotatable around an axis of the hanger 310. When the hanger 310 is in the case 303, the user holds the hand grip 312, turns the hanger 310 to move down the hanger 310, and can put the clothes on the hanger 310. After all the clothes are put on the hanger 310, the hanger 310 is turned upward to position the hanger 310 at an upper position by using the hand grip 312. Then, after closing the door 301 on the case 303, the dryer 100 is put into operation for drying the clothes.

Of course, a combination of the foregoing embodiment in FIG. 10 and the embodiment can be made. That is, a dryer having both the moving up/down unit and the rotatable hanger is viable. In this case, after moving down the moving up/down unit for putting the clothes, the hanger is turned down to a front of the case, to position the hanger further lower than before, for putting the clothes thereon.

In the meantime, though not shown, the dryer may have a receiving unit (not shown) for receiving information on weather from an outside of the dryer, additionally. Since description of the reception and weather information is similar to the description made in the laundry holding unit, repetitive description of the same will be omitted.

The operation of the dryer 300 will be described with reference to the drawings.

If the user inputs a drying time and so on taking incidence of the natural light into account, the control unit 321 controls operation of the hot air supply unit 317 accordingly. In the operation of the hot air supply unit 317, a temperature of the hot air, or speed of the hot air, turn on/off of the hot air supply unit is included. For an example, If the natural light is incident, the user may make the speed of the hot air faster or an operation time period of the hot air supply unit 317 longer than when the natural light is not incident.

Moreover, of a total drying time period, the control unit 321 adjusts a ratio of a drying time period with the hot air supply unit 317 to a drying time period with the natural light according to the incidence of the natural light.

In detail, if the total drying time period of the clothes is set according to information provided by the identification tag on the clothes intended to dry, in the drying with the hot air supply unit 317, the cover 314 is closed to exclude the natural light, the hot air supply unit 317 is put into operation, to perform drying only with the hot air. Moreover, after finish of the drying time period with the hot air supply unit 317, the cover 314 is opened during the drying time period with the natural light, and the hot air supply unit 317 is turned off, for drying the clothes only with the natural light. Of course, order of dry with the natural light and dry with the hot air may be changed.

Moreover, the control unit 321 controls the drying time periods of dry with the hot air supply unit 317 and the natural light respectively depending on whether the natural light is incident or not. In this case, the cover 314 may be opened, and the hot air supply unit 317 may be operated to perform the drying by using both the natural light and the hot air.

For an example, if the total drying time period of the clothes is 6 hours, the drying with the hot air supply unit 317 may be set to 4 hours, and the drying with the natural light may be set to 4 hours. In this case, the drying with the hot air supply unit 317 and the drying with the natural light are made in two hours, simultaneously. That is, the total drying time period may be shorter than a sum of the drying time period with the hot air supply unit 317 and the drying time period with the natural light.

Next, the control unit 321 controls the operation of the hot air supply unit 317 with reference to information on clothes received from the second sensor 316.

Moreover, the control unit 321 may control the hot air supply unit 317 and the cover 314 with reference to a proper drying mode selected from an operation mode storing unit 322 having information on proper drying operation modes for clothes provided thereto in advance.

For an example, if the control unit 321 receives information on the clothes that a kind of the clothes is knee trousers, a size of the clothes is 32 inches, cloth of the clothes is cotton, with a caution that the clothes is required to be dried at a temperature below 70° C., the control unit 321 dries the clothes according to the speed of the hot air, the temperature of the hot air, an operation time period of the hot air, and a total drying time period predetermined and stored in the operation mode storing unit 322. Of course, the temperature of the hot air will be kept to be below 70° C. It is case, opening of the cover 314 for drying with the natural light is also viable.

Moreover, the control unit 321 displays the information on the clothes received from the second sensor 316 on the display unit 302. According to the information, the operation of the hot air supply unit 317 can be controlled by user's input 361.

Next, the control unit 321 controls the operation of the hot air supply unit 317 according to weather information. For an example, it is preferable that the operation time period and the temperature of the hot air supply unit 317 is controlled. Other than this, drying with the natural light by opening the cover 314 is also viable.

Moreover, by displaying the weather information on the display unit 302, the control unit 321 may control the operation of the hot air supply unit 317 and the cover 314 according to the user's input 361. For an example, when weather information is received that the sun shine is strong and the UV ray index is high, the cover 314 is closed, to cut off the incidence of the natural light and perform the drying only with the hot air, if the clothes is a kind that is damaged if the clothes is dried with the sunshine.

Moreover, the control unit 321 may control the operation of the UV lamp 318 according to the information on the clothes for sterilizing the clothes. If the control unit 321 receives information on the clothes that the clothes are clothes for a child, clothes for a patient, clothes for a person with allergy, or so on, the control unit 321 controls the UV lamp 318 to increase an operation time thereof for strengthening sterilization of the clothes.

Of course, the control unit 321 may control the moving up/down unit 331 to move up or down.

FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of a clothes holding unit of the clothes treating apparatuses in the total clothes treating system of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, the clothes holding unit has a cabinet 510. The cabinet forms an exterior of the clothes holding unit and forms a space for holding the clothes. The cabinet 510 has a door 511 on a front for holding the clothes. Mounted in the cabinet 510, there is an air conditioner 520 (see FIG. 14) for supplying cold air to an inside of the cabinet 510. A display unit 570 is mounted to the front for displaying a clothes holding state.

Above elements will be described in detail respectively.

The cabinet 510 forms an exterior of the clothes holding unit and a space for holding the clothes therein. It is preferable that the front is sealed so that air in the cabinet 510 does not communicate with an outside of the cabinet 510. Moreover, it is preferable that the cabinet 510 is constructed of members with low heat conductivity for preventing a clothes holding environment in the cabinet 510 from being influenced from an outside condition.

Moreover, it is preferable that a plurality of compartments 530 are formed. Storage environments of the clothes vary with materials and usages of the clothes. Therefore, the clothes holding space has a plurality of independent compartments 530, for forming the storage environments individually according to the clothes to be storage therein. Accordingly, it is preferable that members of the housing of the compartments are formed of material with a low heat conductivity.

Though the embodiment described with reference to a cabinet 510 having a plurality of the compartments 530, it is apparent that a case in which an inside space of the cabinet 510 is not divided, but used as one space is also included to a scope of the present invention.

It is preferable that the cabinet 510 has a door 511 for opening/closing the cabinet 510. A door opened state enables putting the clothes in the cabinet 510, and a door 511 closed state enables to maintain the clothes storage environment of the cabinet 510. Of course, it is preferable that the door 511 has a sealing member (not shown) for sealing the cabinet 510.

In the meantime, the air conditioner 520 is mounted in the cabinet 510. If a clothes storage space in the cabinet 510 is taken into account, it is preferable that the air conditioner 520 is mounted to one end of the cabinet 510. It is more preferably that the air conditioner 520 is mounted to a top of the cabinet 510. The air conditioner 520 will be described in detail later.

The cabinet also has a display unit 570 on the front for displaying the clothes storage environment in the cabinet 510 and an operation state.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of a system of the air conditioner 520. The air conditioner 520 will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

According to the present invention, it is preferable that the air conditioner is mounted to the inside of the cabinet 510 (see FIG. 13) for supplying cold air to the cabinet 510. A related clothes holding unit can not but result in damage to the clothes from fungi and ticks if proper management of the clothes is failed, which is stored for a long time period. Therefore, noticing that the fungi and ticks is habitable at a condition of a temperature higher than a room temperature, the cold air is supplied to the clothes storage space to store the clothes at a low temperature for repelling the fungi and ticks.

Though chemicals are treated for repelling the fungi and ticks in the related art, the chemical is liable to damage the clothes. Opposite to this, the cold air supply can repel the fungi and ticks without damage to the clothes. Moreover, an optimum clothes storage environment is lower than a room temperature, the cold air supply not only provides the fungi and ticks repelling effect, but also a good clothes storage environment.

The air conditioner 520 includes a compressor 524, a second heat exchanger 523, an expansion unit 522, and a first heat exchanger 521, and refrigerant circulates through the air conditioner 520 to form a refrigerant cycle. The first and second heat exchanger 521 and 523 serve as a condenser and an evaporator, or an evaporator and a condenser depending on circulation directions of the refrigerant.

The compressor 524 makes adiabatic compression of the low temperature, low pressure gaseous refrigerant to high temperature, high pressure gaseous refrigerant, and the high temperature, high pressure gaseous refrigerant is cooled down and condensed into a room temperature, high pressure liquidus refrigerant. Then, the refrigerant passes through the expansion device 522 having a capillary tube to become low temperature, low pressure two phased fluid, and absorbs heat from an outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant passes through the condenser and is vaporized into gaseous refrigerant, and reaches to the compressor 524, thereby forming a cycle. According to this, the condenser can supply warm air as heat exchange is made as the condenser heats surrounding air with latent heat the refrigerant discharges as the refrigerant is condensed, and the evaporator can supply cold air as heat exchange is made as the evaporator cools down surrounding air with latent heat the refrigerant absorbs as the refrigerant is vaporized.

It is preferable that the air conditioner 520 is mounted to a top of an inside of the cabinet 510, it is preferable that the first heat exchanger 521 is mounted such that heat exchange is made with a top surface or a rear surface of an outside of the cabinet 510, and it is preferable that the second heat exchanger 523 is mounted such that heat exchange can made in communication with the inside of the cabinet 510.

In the meantime, in the embodiment, a four way valve 525 may further be included to a portion connected to the compressor 524. The four way valve 525 switches refrigerant suction and discharge pipes of the compressor 524 such that the second heat exchanger 523 which is in communication with the inside of the cabinet 510 is operated as the evaporator if it is intended to supply cold air, and the second heat exchanger 523 is operated as the condenser if it is intended to supply warm air. Therefore, the air conditioner 520 can supply the cold air or the warm air depending on the switching of the four way valve 525. That is, by controlling a flow direction of the refrigerant, a temperature control of the inside of the cabinet 510 is possible.

The storage temperature control by means of the air conditioner of the embodiment enables to form an optimum storage environment for materials of the clothes. Especially, high quality winter clothes are put on only focused on winter, and stored most the year without putting on the clothes. If a significantly expensive price of the clothes is taken into account, the user intends to maintain an optimum storage condition for extending a life time of the clothes. If the temperature control of the clothes holding unit is possible, storage of the clothes in a state the optimum storage temperature for the clothes is maintained is possible, enabling extending the life time of the clothes to the maximum while maintaining characteristics of the clothes. Along with this, the possibility of supplying the warm air of the embodiment permits the user to put on the clothes in a cold day after the clothes is warmed in the clothes holding unit with the warm air.

The clothes holding unit of the present invention includes the air conditioner 520 that can supply the cold air and even warm air. Therefore, though the embodiment employs the air conditioner 520 which uses the refrigerant from the compressor, the present invention is not limited to this. For an example, employment of a variety of types of air conditioners, such as a system which has a nitrogen cooling unit and a fan for supplying cold air, or a system which has a heater and a fan for supplying warm air, is also possible. If economy is recognized in view of a capacity, use of an air conditioner of a thermoelement is also possible.

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of a connection system between the compartments 530 in which the clothes are placed and the air conditioner, and FIG. 16 illustrates a block diagram showing relations between the air conditioner and related elements in the compartments. A structure of the compartments 530 in the cabinet 510 will be described.

As described before, the cabinet 510 has a plurality of the independent compartments 530 therein, and the compartments 530 form spaces for storing the clothes. Each of the compartments 530 is in communication with the air conditioner 520, to form a flow passage through which the cold air and the warm air circulates, and has flow control means 532 for opening/closing the flow passage, selectively.

The flow passage for making the compartments 530 in communication with the air conditioner 520 and the cold air and the warm air to circulate therethrough can control a temperature of the compartment by heat exchange at the air conditioner. It is preferable that the flow passage in communication with the air conditioner 520 is provided to every compartment so that an independent storage environment can be formed for each of the compartments 530.

In order to form the flow passage, a duct 531 which is in communication with the air conditioner 520 is provided to each of the compartments. The duct 531 is provided to each of the compartments 530 individually to form a flow passage in communication with the air conditioner 520.

It is preferable that flow control means 532 is provided for selective opening/closing of each of the ducts 531. Each of the compartments 530 has the duct 531 in communication with the air conditioner 520. Therefore, if the air conditioner 520 exchanges heat for temperature control of one of the compartments 530, the ducts 531 in communication with the other compartments 530 are closed for maintaining an individual storage environment.

More preferably, the flow control means 532 is provided to portions the air is drawn from the air conditioner 520 to the compartment 530 and the air is discharged from the compartment 530, respectively. Moreover, it is preferable that the flow control means 532 is controlled from the control unit 550 (see FIG. 17) together with the air conditioner 520.

If the flow control means 532 forms an air circulating passage to the compartments 530, a flow rate control means 533 may be mounted to the inside of the cabinet 510 for controlling a flow rate of the air circulating along the flow passage in the cabinet 510. It is preferable that the flow rate control means 533 is controlled by the control unit 550. By means of this, the flow rate of the cold air or warm air from the air conditioner 520 is controlled, for controlling a rate of a temperature change. Moreover, in a case air blowing operation to the compartment 530 is required, the flow rate control means 533 is controlled, to control an intensity of the air blow.

As the flow rate control means 533, the fan 533 is mounted to a position the air is drawn into the compartments 530 from the air conditioner 520 for controlling the flow rate. While the fan 533 serves to induces air circulation 530 from the air conditioner 533 to the compartments 530, the fan 533 controls the flow rate of the air introduced to the compartments 530 by a rotation speed. It is preferable that the fan 533 is controlled by the control unit 550.

However, the flow rate control means is not limited to the fan 533, and the flow rate control means can be mounted not to a portion where the air is introduced to the compartment 530, but other portion.

FIG. 16 illustrates a block diagram showing relations between the air conditioner and related elements in the compartments, schematically. A system for forming the optimum storage environment for the clothes holding unit will be described with reference to FIG. 16.

It is preferable that a humidity control unit 534 is provided to the inside of the cabinet 510 for controlling humidity of the air. It is preferable that the humidity control unit 534 controls the humidity under the control of the control unit 550 (see FIG. 17), for controlling the humidity of the compartments 530. As the fungi and ticks are habitable in an environment in which an appropriate humidity is maintained, it is preferable that a low humidity is maintained for improving the fungi and ticks repelling effect, and it is favorable for forming the optimum storage environment of the clothes.

Accordingly, referring to FIG. 16, the humidity control unit 534 is provided to the inside of the cabinet 510 for controlling humidity of the air. It is preferable that the humidity control unit 534 of desiccant is employed in the embodiment to mount the desiccant rotor of the related art. The desiccant rotor contains desiccant for controlling the humidity by a dehumidifying step of absorbing or adsorbing moisture from surrounding air at a room temperature to remove the moisture from the air, and a regenerating step of vaporizing the moisture absorbed thus at a high temperature to remove the moisture from the desiccant.

Therefore, if a dehumidifying operation is performed under the control of the control unit 550, the humidify control unit 534 performs a dehumidifying operation, and if a humidifying operation is performed, the humidity control unit 34 performs the regenerating operation for controlling the humidity.

Though the humidity control unit 534 of the desiccant is described in the embodiment as a device for controlling the humidity, the present invention is not limited to this. For an example, it is also possible that a bypass valve is connected to the expansion unit 522 of the air conditioner 520 such that the second heat exchanger 523 can make condensing, expansion, and evaporation, for controlling humidity. However, since it is preferable that simultaneous temperature and humidity control is made, it is preferable that the humidity control unit 534 is provided independently. Of course, a humidifier and a dehumidifier may be provided independently for controlling the humidity.

In the meantime, a filter 535 is included to the embodiment for deodoring or purifying of air circulating through the inside of the compartments 530. This is because, if clothes put on once is stored in the holding unit directly, even other clothes stored herein already can be affected by offensive odor and dusts.

Moreover, in order to provide an aroma function, an aroma unit 536 may be mounted, for optimizing the storage state. Therefore, it is preferable that the aroma unit 536 contains vegetable resin that has the aroma function as well as fungi and ticks repelling effect.

It is preferable that the humidify controlling unit 534, the air purifying filter 535, and the aroma unit 536 are mounted to a flow passage of the air circulation taking operation efficiency for making most of the air to pass therethrough. However, it is apparent that the mounting order in FIG. 16 of the humidify controlling unit 534, the air purifying filter 535, and the aroma unit 536 in the air circulation passage is only one example, but nothing to do with the mounting order of the units.

The operation of the clothes holding unit of the embodiment will be described. Upon putting the clothes holding unit into operation, heat exchange starts at a portion adjacent to the second heat exchanger 523 of the air conditioner 520.

Together with starting of operation of the air conditioner 520, the flow control means 532 forms a flow passage required for the operation, selectively. That is, the flow control means 532 opens the duct 531 from the air conditioner to the compartment 530 that is required for air conditioning, and closes the duct 531 from the air conditioner to the compartment 530 that is not required for air conditioning. According to this, the air circulation flow passage is formed only for the compartment that is required for air conditioning.

In the meantime, as the fan 533 in the compartment 530 comes into operation, air circulation is induced for the flow passage, and by controlling the rotation speed of the fan 533, the flow rate to the compartment is controlled. According to this, by the operation of the fan 533, an air circulation path is formed as the air is discharged from the compartment 530 toward the air conditioner again after the air heat exchanged thus is supplied to the inside of the compartment 530 having the clothes stored therein through the duct 531.

While circulating through the flow passage, the air inside of the compartment passes through the humidity control unit 534 to have the humidity thereof controlled, and passes through the purifying filter 535 and the aroma unit 536 to have a state thereof optimized, thereby forming the clothes storage environment.

The present invention includes a control unit 550 for controlling the air conditioner 520 in the clothes holding unit. If the clothes holding unit 534 has the humidity control unit 534, it is preferable that the control unit 550 can also control the operation of the humidity control unit 534. If the clothes holding unit 534 has the flow rate control unit 533, it is preferable that the control unit 550 can also control the operation of the flow rate control unit 533. Along with this, if the clothes holding unit 534 has the duct 531 and the flow control means 532, it is preferable that the control unit 550 can also control the flow control means 532 that can control opening/closing of the duct 531.

FIG. 17 illustrates a block diagram showing input/output to/from the control unit 550 of the clothes holding unit. The operation of the control unit 550 will be described with reference to FIG. 17.

The clothes holding unit of the embodiment includes the air conditioner 520 for conditioning of air, the humidity control unit 534 for controlling humidity, the ducts 531 and the flow control means 532 which are connected to each of the compartments 530, and, along with this, the control unit 550 for controlling the air conditioner 520, the humidity control unit 534, the flow rate control means 533, and the flow control means 532. Therefore, the control unit 550 can control temperatures and humidity required for different operation modes of the compartments 530.

The clothes holding unit of the embodiment also includes a temperature sensor 551 for measuring a stored temperature of the clothes, and a humidity sensor 552 for measuring humidity thereof. It is preferable that the temperature sensor 551, and the humidity sensor 552 are mounted in the cabinet 510.

Since the clothes holding unit of the embodiment has a plurality of compartments 530 for controlling the storage environments of the compartments 530 individually, it is preferable that the temperature sensor 551, and the humidity sensor 552 are mounted to every compartments 530.

The temperature and the humidity measured at the temperature sensor 551, and the humidity sensor 552 are reported to the control unit 550. Accordingly, it is possible for the control unit 550 to compare a required clothes storage environment to a measured clothes storage environment, and control the air conditioner 520, the humidity control unit, and so on.

Moreover, it is preferable that measured values of the temperature and the humidity measured at the temperature sensor 551, and the humidity sensor 552 are displayed on the display unit 570. The user can determine whether the clothes holding unit is operated properly or not with reference to the measured values displayed on the display unit 570.

The operation setting of the control unit 550 will be described.

The present invention may include an input unit 560 for the user to set an operation mode, personally. According to the operation mode the user set to the input unit 560 personally, the control unit 550 can control operation of the clothes holding unit.

Referring to FIG. 13, the cabinet 510 has the input unit 560 on a front for enabling the user's operation setting for the clothes holding unit.

It is preferable that the operation mode setting can be made, not only by the user personally, but also by the control unit 550 by determining a proper operation mode and setting the operation mode, automatically. Since there are many factors that determine the optimum clothes storage environment are a material of the clothes, a weather condition when the clothes are put on, a clothes states at the time of storage, and so on, and various kinds of clothes management information are provided, it is very difficult for the user to determine personally taking all the factors into account. Therefore, the present invention may include a system in which the control unit 550 makes automatic setting of the proper operation mode according to a clothes state and the like.

The control unit 550 includes a storage unit 553 having the proper operation modes for states of the clothes stored in the clothes holding unit, because storage operation differs with the clothes material and the weather condition. For an example, in a case of fur, it is optimum that a temperature of 15° C. and a humidity of 55% is maintained. If yellow dust is intensive, in order to remove the yellow dust from the clothes, it is required to remove the dust with a purifying filter 535 in a blowing step at first. Thus, as the storage unit 553 has the proper operation modes for various clothes materials and various kinds of weather information stored therein, the storage unit 553 suggests a reference for the control unit 550 to determine the proper operation mode, automatically. It is preferable that the contents provided to the storage unit 553 may be ones stored at the time of production originally, and provided or revised, later.

The storage unit 553 stores various proper operation modes for various factors (for an example, the clothes materials, the weather information, and so on). In order to determine or suggest one or a few of the proper operation modes stored in the storage unit 553, it is preferable that the embodiment has a system for receiving information on the factors. Therefore, the embodiment includes a system for collecting required information and forwarding to the information to the control unit 550 as follows.

The embodiment is provided with an identification tag 554 detachable from the clothes for inputting clothes information thereto. Moreover, the embodiment is provided with a reading sensor 555 for reading the clothes information in the identification tag 554.

The identification tag 554 has means for detachably attaching the same to the clothes, and enables information on a material and so on of the clothes the identification tag 554 is attached thereto to be inputted thereto. It is preferable the information on the clothes inputted thus can be displayed in an electric signal.

The identification sensor 555 can sense the signal from the identification tag 554. With reference to presence of the signal, the identification sensor 555 determines whether the clothes is received or not, and becomes to know information on the clothes received thus by interpreting the signal.

According to this, the identification sensor 555 becomes to know reception of the clothes and information on the clothes received thus, and provides the control unit 550 information required for control unit 550 to determine the proper operation mode from information the storage unit 553 has. This can be utilized in that, if a time period of non-reception of particular high quality clothes is longer than a preset time period, the fact is informed to the user, for the user to determine if the clothes are lost, or to know that the user does not have the clothes.

A communication module 556 is included to the embodiment for receiving weather information and management information. The communication module 556 can communicate with a server (not shown) on an outside of the total laundry treating system which supplies above information, preferably a home network server.

The communication module 556 receives the weather information and the management information on the clothes from the server. For an example, the communication module 556 receives the weather information during the time period the user puts on the clothes, and management and storage information on the cloth, additionally.

The identification tag 554, the identification sensor 55, and the communication module 556 enables to receive information on a clothes state which is used as variables for selecting the proper operation mode from the operation modes stored in the storage unit 553. According to this, the control unit 550 can set the proper operation mode automatically by using the information received thus.

It is preferable that the information received at the control unit 550 thus and the proper operation mode the storage unit 553 suggests with reference to the information is displayed on the display unit 570. In this case, the control unit 550 can make automatic operation mode setting with reference to the information, or the user may set the proper mode to the input unit 560 with reference to the proper operation mode suggested thus and displayed on the display unit 570, personally.

As described, the setting of the operation mode of the clothes holding unit can be made by the user with the input unit 560 personally or automatically with the control unit 550 by selecting the proper operation mode from the operation modes stored in the storage unit 553 with reference to the information received thus. Or, the user may set the proper operation mode with reference to the information received thus and the operation modes stored in the storage unit 553 displayed on the display unit 570.

The control by the control unit 550 will be described.

The user attaches the identification tag 554 to the clothes to be stored and puts the clothes into the clothes holding unit. In this instance, the identification sensor 555 mounted in the clothes holding unit senses a signal from the identification tag 554, collects information on reception of the clothes and information on the clothes received thus and forwards the information to the control unit 550. The communication module 556 mounted to the clothes holding unit receives weather information and so on from the server, preferably, the home network server if one is available, and forwards the weather information to the control unit 550. The control unit 550 determines the proper operation mode of the operation modes stored in the storage unit 553 according to information on a clothe state received thus for forming an optimum storage environment. Both automatic setting of the proper operation mode by the determination of the control unit 550 and user's personal setting of the proper operation mode under suggestion of the proper operation mode by the control unit 550 are possible.

Once the proper operation mode is set through above steps, the control unit 550 controls the air conditioner 520, the humidity control unit 534, the flow rate control means 533, and the flow control means 532 according to the operation mode set thus for the compartment 530 having the clothes stored therein. The temperature sensor 551 and the humidity sensor 552 in the compartment 530 measure the temperature and the humidity and report to the control unit 550, and the control unit 550 controls operation of the clothes holding unit with reference to the temperature and the humidity reported thus.

In the meantime, referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, if the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses are provided, the total clothes treating system of the present invention may further includes a display unit 600 for receiving states of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and data on the clothes being treated at each of the clothes treating apparatuses and displaying the information for the user to notice.

Though it is preferable that the display unit 600 is an LCD (Liquid crystal display), the display unit 600 is not limited to this, but an appropriate variation is possible.

The display unit 600 makes realtime display of data on various kinds of information on the clothes being treated, for an example, washing information, drying information, and so on. As described, it is preferable that the information is stored in the identification tag of the clothes, sensed by the sensor provided to the clothes treating apparatuses, and transmitted to the display unit 600.

In the meantime, the states of the clothes treating apparatuses and the data can be displayed on the display unit 600 in various ways. For an example, if the user operates more than one of the clothes treating apparatuses, the states of the clothes treating apparatuses being operated and the information on the clothes being treated can be displayed in succession. That is, if the washing machine and the dryer are operated at the same time, the state of the washing machine and the clothes information therein is display at first, then, the state of the dryer and the clothes information therein is display later after passing a predetermined time period. In this case, the display unit 600 may be made, either to display the state of the washing machine and the clothes information displayed simultaneously, or to display the state of the washing machine at first, and to display the information on the clothes being treated at the washing machine in succession.

It is preferable that, if the user selects one of the clothes treating apparatuses during the display, the display unit 600 is made to display the state of the clothes treating apparatus selected thus and the information on the clothes being treated at the clothes treating apparatus selected thus.

In the meantime, if the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses are provided, in general, the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses are provided with individual control units. Thus, if it is intended to control the operation by means of the individual control units, the user is required to move from one to another clothes treating apparatuses for inputting operation order respectively, which is inconvenient. Moreover, if interfaces used at the control units of the clothes treating apparatuses are different from one another, the user is required to know the interface functions varied with the control units of the clothes treating apparatuses.

Therefore, it is preferable that the display unit 600 is designed, not only to display the data on the clothes being treated at the clothes treating apparatuses, but also to control the operation of the clothes treating apparatuses. For this, it is preferable that the display unit 600 is provided with an input unit 610 for inputting an operation order to the plurality of clothes treating apparatus.

Though not shown, the input unit 610 may be designed appropriately such that the operation order is given to the plurality of the clothes treating apparatuses. For an example, the input unit 610 may include an apparatus selecting unit (not shown) for selecting the clothes treating apparatus the user intends of control, and an order selecting unit (not shown) for selecting an operation menu on the clothes treating apparatus selected at the apparatus selecting unit.

In the meantime, if the operation orders are transmitted to the clothes treating apparatuses, though the user can designate conditions of the operation orders for the clothes treating apparatuses one by one, for an example, an operation course of the washing machine, a water temperature, a number of spinning, a number of rinsing, and so on, the display unit 600 may display the optimum treating method for the clothes being treated at the clothes treating apparatuses.

For this, it is preferable that the display unit 600 has a data base stored therein on the optimum treating method of the clothes being treated therein according to the state of the clothes, already. Moreover, it is preferable that the display unit 600 has a storage unit (not shown) provided thereto additionally for storing the clothes information from the clothes treating apparatuses.

Therefore, if the data on the clothes are forwarded from the clothes treating apparatuses, the display unit 600 stores the data to the storage unit at first, compares the clothes information of the data to the data base, and retrieves a clothes treating method suitable for the clothes information from the data base. The clothes treating method retrieved thus is displayed on the display unit 600.

If the clothes treating method is displayed thus, if the user selects the clothes treating method, the display unit 600 can control operation of the clothes treating apparatuses. Moreover, after displaying the clothes treating method thus, automatic control of the clothes treating apparatuses to be operated according to the displayed treating methods is also possible.

In the meantime, though the foregoing embodiment describes that the information on the clothes from the clothes treating apparatuses is stored at first, and a clothes treating method suitable for the clothes information is retrieved from the data base stored already, the present invention is not limited to this, but the optimum treating method suitable for the clothes state of the identification tag may be stored in advance. That is, if the information on the clothes sensed at the identification sensor is transmitted to the display unit 600, the information can contain the treating methods for the clothes states for the clothes treating apparatuses, already. In this case, what is required for the display unit 600 is display of the treating methods contained in the information transmitted thus only, and the comparison to the clothes information in the data base may be omitted.

Moreover, the display unit 600 may further be provided with a receiver (not shown) for receiving information on weather from an outside of the total clothes treating system. According to this, the display unit 600 can calculate the clothes treating methods to be treated at the clothes treating apparatuses with reference not only to the information on the clothes, but also the information on the weather received from the receiver.

For this, the data base may have the clothes treating methods for the clothes treating apparatuses, not only according to the clothes states, but also according to the weather states stored therein, and furthermore, according to the clothes states of the identification tag on the clothes.

Eventually, the display unit 600, not only can make realtime display of information on the clothes being treated at the clothes treating apparatuses, but also input operation orders to the clothes treating apparatuses, easy control of the clothes treating apparatuses is possible.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The total clothes treating system of the present invention permits all kinds of treatments for the clothes, i.e., total treatment, with one system.

Because input of the information on the clothes to the clothes treating apparatuses individually is not required, even though the clothes treating apparatuses treat clothes individually, the treatment of the clothes is made easy.

Calculation of the clothes treating method is possible, by taking not only the information on the clothes, but also the weather information into account.

The plurality of clothes treating apparatuses can be controlled at the display unit conveniently without making individual control of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses.

Information on states of the clothes treating apparatuses and the clothes being treated can be determined at the display unit easily without determining the states at the clothes treating apparatuses one by one. 

1. A total clothes treating system comprising: a plurality of clothes treating apparatuses positioned adjacent to one another for treating clothes; a display unit for receiving states of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and data on the clothes being treated at the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses, and displaying for a user to notice; and a data exchange unit for data exchange among the clothes treating apparatuses and the display unit.
 2. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses include a washing machine and a dryer.
 3. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses further include a refresher.
 4. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses further include a washing and drying machine, and a refresher.
 5. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses further include a clothes holding unit.
 6. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data exchange unit is cables connected among the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and the display unit, or wireless communication units mounted to the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses and the display unit respectively for making wireless data exchange.
 7. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).
 8. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit further includes an input unit for inputting operation orders to the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses respectively according to user's selection.
 9. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the clothes respectively held in the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses have an identification tag containing information on the clothes, and each of the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses has an identification sensor for sensing the clothes information on the identification tag and transmitting the clothes information to the display unit.
 10. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display unit displays the clothes information sensed at the identification sensor.
 11. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display unit further includes a storage unit for storing the clothes information therein.
 12. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clothes information includes information on a clothes state, and the storage unit has information on treating methods for treating the clothes at the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses according to the clothes states respectively in advance, and the display unit compares the clothes information from the identification sensor to the information on treating methods stored in the storage unit in advance, and displays treating methods for treating the clothes at the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses, respectively.
 13. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the display unit gives orders to the clothes treating apparatuses automatically so that the clothes are treated according to the treating methods, or if the user selects the treating methods, the display unit gives orders to the clothes treating apparatuses respectively.
 14. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clothes information includes information on treating the clothes at the clothes treating apparatuses, and the display unit receives the clothes information, stores the clothes information to the storage unit and displays the clothes information at the same time.
 15. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display unit gives orders to the clothes treating apparatuses automatically so that the clothes are treated by the treating methods respectively, or if the user selects the treating methods, the display unit gives orders to the clothes treating apparatuses, respectively.
 16. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display unit further includes a receiver for receiving information on weather from an outside of the total clothes treating system.
 17. The total clothes treating system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the display unit controls the plurality of clothes treating apparatuses with reference to the weather information and the clothes information, respectively. 